there really isn't a reason to be turning a pond so many times. 2-4 is more then enough. I personally would not go with just a one time turn in a pond but you are more likely ok with one that size.confused about pump gph
- Thread starter shadowspar
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there really isn't a reason to be turning a pond so many times. 2-4 is more then enough. I personally would not go with just a one time turn in a pond but you are more likely ok with one that size.If you have the bioload that creates a necessity for ten times per hour, then that's what you need! I have large, messy fish in my pond. I need turnover. I think my advice was sound. Rather than say "You definitely do," as the pond person was telling him or her, or "You definitely don't" as you guys are saying, he/she can decide by him/ herself simply by testing the water. Makes sense to me, at least.
yogurt_21;3414916; said:
Indoor. 1000 gallons. One RTC and Two Pacu. Homemade, huge filter which is eight feet long, about, and a foot wide. You can see pics in the indoor pond forum if you'd like to take a look.
there is always an argument that a fast turn over doesn't allow for an efficient filtering bacterial wise, so a slower turn over would allow the bacteria to do the job. You can do a faster turn over but is it necessary?
With no other variables, increased flow seems to be the antidote to ammonia spikes, in my opinion. You may have experienced different results, but I think it's a good investment.
dr_sudz;3415857; said:
I agree.
The correlation between turnover and bioload is something that you should not use. If your tank has a high bioload, then you need to have adequate biofiltration. Increasing the turnover rate would not provide any real benefit other than a bit more aeration for the BB. But as stated above, many believe that high turnover requirements are a bit blown out of proportion. You should simply ensure that your filtration as a whole is adequate.
If you do, though, have adequate biofiltration (my filter area is roughly the size of two 125 gallon tanks, stacked on top of each other -- it's huge and stuffed with meda) and you still see spikes, the next step is to increase flow. Perhaps it was wrong to assume that the OP had adequate filtration, but I assumed he/she did because the focus was now on flow, not on filtration. I do agree that 100 x volume isn't going to fix the fact that an individual is running a tiny filter that is inadequate, but on the other hand, if the filter is large enough, adjusting flow would be the next step, I think.
The next step after addressing the amount of filtration would be to ensure that the filter is designed well enough to handle the bioload. This might be by using a wet/dry filter vs using a sump design. To be honest, from the conversations I have read through and the information provided, low flow rates are truly believed to be more beneficial to housing and stabilizing the BB within the system. Turnover would come into play when addressing the overall cleanliness of the tank by improving mechanical filtration, thus removing more detritus from the system.
To address your point, the ability to improve the effectiveness of your system by increasing the flow rate, might have something to do with the way in which the water is delivered to the bio media. To explain a bit more, the more water than you have falling onto the drip plate, would cause the water to spread farther and distribute a bit better in general. This, IMO, is where you most likely solved your problem.
So in a sense, yes, turnover can make a difference, but the rest of the links in the system must be effectively designed as well.
To address your point, the ability to improve the effectiveness of your system by increasing the flow rate, might have something to do with the way in which the water is delivered to the bio media. To explain a bit more, the more water than you have falling onto the drip plate, would cause the water to spread farther and distribute a bit better in general. This, IMO, is where you most likely solved your problem.
So in a sense, yes, turnover can make a difference, but the rest of the links in the system must be effectively designed as well.
ok now to provide more info for more help... my filter is a diy made of out a 30g tub, the water flows through a filter pad, than into cultured aquarium gravel, than from there into the "net looking scrubby pads", than gravity takes over and water pours into the pond hopefully collecting air and helps with aeration. the pump for that filter is 500gph pump. i dont plan on having many fish. approximately 3koi (long time to be full size) and 3 comets. is it recommended to have a stronger pump or bigger filter, or maybe both?
Your fish won't mind both upgraded. You can keep your current tote and add another. Beef up the pump and plumb it to run both.
